an AIESEC addict forever

Addicted to AIESEC?! In my case - seems like it at least :))
It's been more than 6 years since I joined, out of that 4 yrs on MC/LC boards, since finishing my VPF term in 2004 have basically been engaged with CSR only in AIESEC.

Lately I've done some heavy browsing in @.net communitys for a crazy idea I had - to apply for LDS facilitator!! Well let's see if that plan will realize, but nevertheless - the whole thing has made a lot of great memories come back to me and as I was reading the MC blog and it felt like starting to fill in another MC application :))...Seems like the years only increase my fascination for AIESEC!
Passion, Drive and Effort for making things happen - Motivating - International - Leadership & Management experience - Friends across the World - and so much more!!
Ehh!! What a great place to be!!

I dont want to rank my friends as best and second best, but one thing for sure - these people I have worked closely together in AIESEC will be there for me forever and that's wonderful feeling!!

Grand tour de 2005: India - Bangladesh - UAE

August 23rd to September 18th. I had fantastic time :))))....it'd be too long to write my memories...I planned to do that while on the way, but did not manage...thus here just come some bits of memories in chronological order :)

ON THE WAY...
Last minute panick, MA entrance exams & packing - MariLiis sending me off at Balti Jaam - chocolate candies & pictures - overnight train to Moscow - Elina joining from Jõhvi - me: sleep, Elina: work :)) - morning in Moscow - Bangladesh embassy & getting my visa done - sightseeing in Moscow: the red square - getting lost on my own - the visa & rushing to Domodetovo alone (Elina experiencing the Turkmenistan Airlines) - Fly Emirates! - welcome to sauna!! & sleepless hours in Dubai airport...

INDIA
4 am flight to Delhi - the Lebanese businessmen - huh! it's hot in here!! - Pancheel Park 118 & meeting Elina - welcome back to India: paneer, rikshaws etc etc - a day in sarees - Partners in Change & meeting with Viraf - getting our business cards done - - mmm...Indian food is delicious :)) - Bedi, his friends & the night out (hmm...what club was it?) - shopping, shopping & more shopping - Hyatt, clubs, jaguars, Rajat & friends, no time to sleep...3 hrs still!! - train to Agra - Gaurav Jain from Agra - Jaypee Palace & AIESEC International Congress 2005 - PEEP & the Estonian MC team!!! - long time, no see: reunion with many many people from AIESEC - the AIESEC spirit!! - Sustainability Drive Team meeting - Corporate Responsibility Learning Network Day - India night - Estonian "meeting" ;) - 4 days flew by and off to Jaipur the Pink City - stolen laptop & 'police station' in Jaipur - Kunal Khetan -jewellery & shoe shopping in Jaipur - Elina back to Delhi (off to Himalayas) - Jaipur LC office again, managing urgent e-mails - meeting the EB - Cooba's place & Veronica's T-shirt :)))) - gossip - emotion management... - 02. september: train to Mumbai!!


....ok that was abt half way of my trip :)...i'll try to continue until the end some day :)))

20th of January, 2006

I promised to continue the snapshots of the journey - here I'm doing that...abt 5 monts later!!

continued where I left off:
- meeting friend Ronak in Mumbai - Juhu beach & dancing monkeys - wondering around in the neighborhood - judo competition :D - nite out in Mumbai - Vikram & 37 hours travel from Mumbai to Kolkata - early arrival - oh, Kolkata ain't as crazy place as I had heard of - SRFTI - movies, movies, movies - a 8 hours bus trip to Dhaka!!!

BANGLADESH
hehe...the border control :D - wow didnt think Bangladesh would be such a green country, reminds me of Kerala, India - arrive in Dhaka & meeting Kristel!! - late dinner - staying at Kristel & Helen's place - a bit of sightseeing - to Cox's Bazaar with Kristel, Rajon and Rajon's friend - the longest beach in the World - our nice beach houses - Angel Drop restaurant on the beach - meeting Daan - making fire on the beach - next day sightseeing tour & boat to the island - rainy day - back in Dhaka - us: the Bengalese women :) - some more sightseeing & rain - at the office of Lalmai Group - Hindi streets - shopping at the market for 4 hrs!! - eating out with Kristel - next day off to UAE

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Peep still stuck in India!!! - figuring out my visa solution - 4 day transit - wow, Dubai is nice and HOT!! - + 40 degrees - London Creek Hotel - Dubai museum - some shopping - meeting Ana and Pieter - Daan also arrived for 1 day - Desert Safari with Daan: jeep safari, the camp, camel rides and belly dancing :)) - later pubing with Ana, Pieter and Daan - the DHL dancing team :D:D - FUNFUNFUN - Daan off to airport - sleep in - the SMART car and the 3 of us: me, Ana, Pieter - Lebanese restuarant, Jumeira beach, the soaks of Dubai - had a wonderful time!
Saturday the 17th of September - back home: flight to Moscow and a train to Tallinn from there!!

The whole trip was simply SUPER!!!

A week after I already thought of where to go next :)))


Let's see ;)

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See how beer & sky diving are connected :D

I like U :)))))

A message to all my friends!!

First time in India

It was in feb-march, 2004 when we - me and 2 of my dear friends Kristel and Liis - first time toured India. 5 weeks pure discovery :))
Once having set our minds for India, we figured we can't miss Sri Lanka either. Thus we travelled a few thousand kilometers to see what's up there.

There's many many stories, great discoveries and wonderful impressions regarding our trip, but will skip them for now. Just wanted to refresh my (and yours) memory about India and share the pics here.
login: elmik[at]ut.ee
passw: india


Kristel has blogged her impressions on India here. Scroll down for a post made on Tuesday, March 30, 2004.

The rain

Last night while driving in the car back home...at abt midnite...started thinking abt the rains in India. It had been and still was raining in Tallinn area for a few hours yesterday...large raindrops (thousands and thousands of them) running rapidly down the car windshields.
Tried to imagine the floods, mud and stuff...
I wonder how is it going to be...me - a backpacker in India.

They say Mumbai will be ok by then...but never know what's in the east..and in Bangladesh...hm..we shall see...I actually didnt expect such heavy floods, but well...shall see then!

I sometimes think I have a tendency of misjudging possible threats...not just regarding travel but otherwise as well. Not that I worry abt myself...but sometimes just catch myself thinking that maybe I shud at least occasionally.

oh well everything will be ok anyways so what's the worry...


There's a song abt rain on a radio right now (a love song actually)

Travel arrangements...

A chat over msn with my friend in India - making travel arrangments :)

Back @ SRFTI says:
hi Triinu its vikram from kolkata
Back @ SRFTI says:
i was just replyin back to ur mail
tru classified intentions says:
Hey Vikram!
Back @ SRFTI says:
so mostly u will be in kolkata on 8/9th sept
Back @ SRFTI says:
and a short stay of 2 or 3 days
tru classified intentions says:
yes, that's most probable as for now
tru classified intentions says:
yes
Back @ SRFTI says:
ok gr8
Back @ SRFTI says:
as u have figured two days is very short to do any thin
Back @ SRFTI says:
in a big country like ours
Back @ SRFTI says:
hahahah
Back @ SRFTI says:
but still we can always have good fun
tru classified intentions says:
heheh...i know i'll be in india for abt 2 weeks
tru classified intentions says:
a bit more, but just travelling everywhere
tru classified intentions says:
thus only a few days in kolkata
Back @ SRFTI says:
there is only one problem which cannot be predicted
Back @ SRFTI says:
thats is the Rains....
Back @ SRFTI says:
they have just caused mass floodin in Mumbai...and the same is possible in Kolkata too specially in Sept....
Back @ SRFTI says:
but one never reallty can say abt the rain...some days pass as dry and hot as summer and the next day it could rain like hell
tru classified intentions says:
oh yeah, i've heard from the int news
tru classified intentions says:
abt the situation in mumbai
Back @ SRFTI says:
and if it rains heavily in ur time here...then be ready with a good back up plan
tru classified intentions says:
u mean it could happen that the trains wont travel etc
tru classified intentions says:
my plan is to go to bangladesh, that's why i'll b in kolkata
Back @ SRFTI says:
basically all train schedules and flight schedules go for a toss
Back @ SRFTI says:
ya i got that part
tru classified intentions says:
aha ok
Back @ SRFTI says:
right nw mumbai is cut of from rest of india by train
Back @ SRFTI says:
all trains to mumbai till 6 august have been cancelled
tru classified intentions says:
ooo wow
tru classified intentions says:
i was planning to go to mumbai....
Back @ SRFTI says:
this year the rains have been delayed but they are back with a bang
Back @ SRFTI says:
Riin Kranna
tru classified intentions says:
hm...so i shud just hope that it'll b better in one month time eh?
Back @ SRFTI says:
she is in mumbai right now
tru classified intentions says:
aaa...yeah i know her
Back @ SRFTI says:
my films director
tru classified intentions says:
but didnt know she was there in mumbai right now
Back @ SRFTI says:
she got stranded on frankfurt airport for 3 days and finaly reached mumbai after 5 days
Back @ SRFTI says:
i just spoke to her last night
tru classified intentions says:
ooo woww!!!!
Back @ SRFTI says:
i shud be meetin her in end August...
tru classified intentions says:
huh!! sounds like a challenge!!
Back @ SRFTI says:
in mumbai
tru classified intentions says:
but i guess i shud only hope for the best then eh
Back @ SRFTI says:
ya by sept the situation shud be completly normal
Back @ SRFTI says:
do u have any specific thin u want to see or do in Kollkata
Back @ SRFTI says:
anythin u have read abt
tru classified intentions says:
i have a plan to visit mumbai on the 2nd to 5th of sept and after that head to kolkata via kajuraho
Back @ SRFTI says:
or just a general two day visit is ok with u
tru classified intentions says:
i dont have anything that particular in mind
Back @ SRFTI says:
superb u r in mumbai durin Ganapati festival the biggest mumbai fest
Back @ SRFTI says:
thats on the 3rd or 5th sept
tru classified intentions says:
ooo sounds good, i didnt know that
tru classified intentions says:
i'll visit my indian friend there in mumbai
Back @ SRFTI says:
i hope to be in mumbai durin that time
tru classified intentions says:
oo great! so maybe we'll see there in mumbai alraedy
tru classified intentions says:
but by the 8th/9th u'll b back in kolkata?
Back @ SRFTI says:
ya hopefully
Back @ SRFTI says:
ya defintly
Back @ SRFTI says:
abt accomodation u cud have stayed with us in the SRFTI hostel...
Back @ SRFTI says:
if thats ok with u...
tru classified intentions says:
yeah sure
Back @ SRFTI says:
only prob is its slighty far from the city centre so u have to travel quite a lot evrytime u have to get to the city
tru classified intentions says:
aha...but i think that's managable eh?
Back @ SRFTI says:
ya sure
tru classified intentions says:
u mentioned the distance was like 2 hrs or smth when i talked to u in esto
Back @ SRFTI says:
its abt an hour
Back @ SRFTI says:
but if u take a cab its less
tru classified intentions says:
aa..then no prob
Back @ SRFTI says:
the traffic screw u up all the time
tru classified intentions says:
hehe
Back @ SRFTI says:
Kolkata has a mjor traffic problem...as compared to other indian cities
Back @ SRFTI says:
i remember that u have been to india before
tru classified intentions says:
i've heard it's hell crowed there
tru classified intentions says:
yeah, i have
tru classified intentions says:
so i have some idea
Back @ SRFTI says:
where did u visit last time
tru classified intentions says:
in 2004, feb/march
Back @ SRFTI says:
ya its like Chaos
tru classified intentions says:
but it's exciting, i like india
tru classified intentions says:
it's very unique
Back @ SRFTI says:
hahahah
Back @ SRFTI says:
tell me abt it
tru classified intentions says:
i'm very excited abt my next trip to india
tru classified intentions says:
cant wait really!!!
Back @ SRFTI says:
there are somethins abt my country and its people that make it livable otherwhile its the largest pile of garbage....hahaha
tru classified intentions says:
hehe...in some sense could b true...but there's a lot of beauty in india
Back @ SRFTI says:
ya for sure
Back @ SRFTI says:
i feel the beauty is more in the people than anythin else
Back @ SRFTI says:
like any other thin in life u have the full range of extremes available here in india...with people its more true....
tru classified intentions says:
for me the chaos also somehow entails beauty
Back @ SRFTI says:
hahahahh ya i kind of feel the same
tru classified intentions says:
it has its internal order...or structure....and u have to kinda put effort into getting it
tru classified intentions says:
and find yourself a place there
Back @ SRFTI says:
hahaahah
Back @ SRFTI says:
u seem to have got india all figured out....hahahahah
tru classified intentions says:
but it's attractive...the chaos
tru classified intentions says:
hehe
Back @ SRFTI says:
all prepared to be a part of our chaotic landscape
tru classified intentions says:
yeah...to dig in again
Back @ SRFTI says:
http://www.calcuttaweb.com/
Back @ SRFTI says:
just in case
tru classified intentions says:
ooo thnks!!
Back @ SRFTI says:
since ur dates have been worked out i will try and make myself free and will be in kolkata to help u durin ur trip there
Back @ SRFTI says:
but i hope i can also meet u while in mumbai
tru classified intentions says:
ooo brilliant!!
tru classified intentions says:
thanks a lot!!
Back @ SRFTI says:
http://www.kolkatabeckons.com/
Back @ SRFTI says:
this may help too
tru classified intentions says:
thnks, i'll go thru all this b4 i come!
tru classified intentions says:
yuhuuu!! cant wait!!
Back @ SRFTI says:
ok gr8
Back @ SRFTI says:
will send u more details abt what u can do while u r here
Back @ SRFTI says:
then maybe u can narrow down on some places to go to
Back @ SRFTI says:
and also a mandatory visit to some of our full masala Bollywood films
tru classified intentions says:
yes, that's a good idea
Back @ SRFTI says:
more from me soon....till then ciao
tru classified intentions says:
let's keep in touch! and c u soon
tru classified intentions says:
meanwhile i'll educate myself a bit more on kolkata
Back @ SRFTI says:
k cool
tru classified intentions says:
thnks again!

Clothing brands

In the morning I took a tram to work. Like most of the other mornings, as I like to sleep until the last minute...hmm...and then a few more minutes :P.
Anyhow I was sitting in the tram and there was a girl in front of me wearing kinda dressy looking bag with a big logo (well huge actually!!...like half of the bag was covered with it). Nike or Puma or smth...

I started to wonder why would one want to wear a nice bag with such a huge robust logo on it!!! It doesn't even look nice!!
I do understand that some people need labels to be someone (I think). (I guess I don't - at least not the label)

Others consume brands for quality assuarance...that's actually a valid point, although not always true, considering the effect of globalization and the fact either brand or not could be produced in the same factory in China...

Just a thought in a tram this morning while going to work and observing people.

In the light of this would recommend you to see the movie "The Corporation".
I know I know...it's basically impossible to find in Estonia, so before you go rushing through all the video rentals & any possible store (you wouldnt find it anyways), just ask me!
I'll borrow you the movie :), had it specially delivered from the UK!

Main message - know what you wear (I know it's quite a difficult task!!), an easy one to begin with is to start questioning!

English or Estonian?!

I initially thought I'd do the whole thing in English...cos there's sooo many English speaking people (mainly AIESEC friends all around the world :) that I'd really really like to keep in touch with via if not e-mailing then via blogging...
(I've learnt that I wouldnt manage with regular e-mail updates, thus blogging might actually help :)

But just now that I read some blogs in Estonian I felt that I'll probably every now and then put up some posts in Esto...just cos it feels better that way :))

It's funny but some thoughts just come into my mind either in Estonian or in English - and then these are just better the way they came.

Bachelorettes!!!

One of the most exciting things is about to happen :)) - my twin brother Taavi and my course mate from uni - Kadri - are gettin married!!! whoohoo! cool heh!!

Now to celebrate the event accordingly we throw a bachelorette party for Kadri this weekend :P. Although I dont believe in planned parties too much, this one turned out excpetionally well...and yeah, we actually started getting our ideas together for that a few weeks earlier already.

Now imagine that...handsome guy dressed in a suit to pick up Kadri to take her out for a "date"...a rose and a class of champagne was there to make it look more real...and romantic ;)...then insted of a date (actually!!) he's driving Kadri to the port where 12 of us are welcoming her with...more champagne :))))

Then going yachting for a few hours to enjoy the picturesque Tallinn from a distance and to hold a bikini photo session for her - hehee..the album is soon to be published!!
After that we went to Liisa's for a chinese food and drinks, also to dress her up in a sexy fox costume, which she had to wear the rest of the nite!!
A special event for this part of the evening was a quiz about Taavi...every wrong answer by Kadri cost her a vodka shot to be drank, and every correct one...well somebody else she pointed had to drink it then :)

With no further due we headed to the old town of Tallinn, where Kadri tried out her selling and marketing skills with candies and kisses (on a cheek of course!)! Dancing in front of the Sõprus movie theatre, auction at Molly Malone's, and drinks at Stereo...some highlights of what followed!

AND..I almost forgot that one - after the City tour we headed back to Liisa's for hot'n'spicy..hehe...strip show!! That guy was actually the first real strip-dancer I ever saw and I must say he was good - thus I could recommend in case you need one for your own or anyone elses entertainment ;)

All that behind we headed to Bonnie & Clyde nightclub!!

Cheers!! to soon to be married :)))

We are young only once...

and we also get to be old just once!!

hehe...just a thought :))

Some thoughts about flying

Just about 2 months ago I took up a new adventure - skydiving :))...really good stuff, and getting better every time...like wine, sex, number of other things. Of course the time dimension doesnt actually always work, but with skydiving it does - i've figured that out by now :)

I'm not gonna get into all the details of flying or in my case it's more like 'trying to fly' :)...but just one thought that came to my mind right now - skydiving actually really helps to balance life. In a number of ways:

a) the budget - it sure helps to keep the income/expenditure ratios proportionate :) - for those who dont know, it's not remarkably cheap to learn to fly :)))

b) work vs hobby/sports/outdoor activities - if you also happen to spend too many hours behind your laptop screen, then try skydiving - it sure takes time spent outdoors!!

Well now actually, come to think of it - it doesnt 'balance' everything, cos:

c) the challenge of actually getting the whole thing right (to actually manage a proper dive not just a random flip in the air or anything even worse) is thrilling, and yet only adds to what's there already in my everyday life (I somehow only seem to have positive challenges though (more like opportunities these are) as for now, and that's great ;)

d) fun, enjoy and all this good stuff - skydiving adds one more dose!

What's particularly good about skydiving is simply spending a day out in the open air! I never thought it'd matter that much, but just now I've realized how office(indoors)-based-lifestyle I've acquired....
Of course of course...there's the thrill of free falling from 4 km...but I'm not yet there ;), I guess it'll take some time before I get to these hights...until then I'll keep on trying at the 1,5 km with proper exit and fleer at landing!

That's it for now...back to work ;)

Oh, man! This is complicated!

I know I'm not mastering the arts of IT very well...and it shows...just tried to figure out how to get these pictures up here, and have not managed yet.
Well, I'll keep on trying - I'm sure somehow I'll get them up here :):)